by Hugh Binning
When a Christian looks within his own heart, he finds an inclination and desire to have the love of others, even though his conscience witness to him he doesn’t deserve it. He finds and heartily approves of that good and righteous command of God, that others should love him. Now he may persuade himself, it is so sweet and pleasant to me to be loved by others even though I am conscious that I’ve wronged them? It has such a beauty in my eyes, while I am the object of it? Why then should it be a hard and grievous burden to me to love others, though they have wronged me, and deserve it no more than I did?
Why doesn’t it have the same amiable aspect, when my brother is the object of it? Certainly there’s no other reason but, I am yet carnal, and do not have that fundamental law of nature yet written again upon my heart, “What you would have others do to you, do it to them,” —Matthew 7:12. If I am convinced there is an equity and beauty in that command, which charges others to love me, forgive me, and forbear me, and restore me in meekness, why should it be a grievous command that I should pay that debt of love and tenderness to others? 1st John 5:3—”For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.”
This common domain work’s language has been modernized in places by this site.
